A group of Northern elders under the aegis of North-East Consolidated Peoples Forum, on Monday, lambasted controversial Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmed Gumi, over his recent attacks on President Bola Tinubu and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
They described Gumi’s attack on Tinubu and Wike as malicious, inciting and a deliberate misinterpretation of history of the North.
The Northern elders through their spokesman, Mohammed Abba Liman, in Abuja, distanced themselves from Gumi’s recent verbal attack.
They said the Islamic cleric was only expressing his personal opinion and not on behalf of the North.
The Northern elders expressed their determination to continue to support President Tinubu and the FCT Minister, Wike.
While describing Gumi as a “divisive element”, they said it was easy for him to make an “unhealthy and inciting statement” because he has not experienced conflict, the pains and horrors of war before.
The Northern elders also condemned the religious and ethnic incitements by those they described as “misguided elements and their sponsors” in order to cause disaffection and disunity in the country,” saying “such does not represent the collective view and interest of the North, and certainly not Nigeria’s interest.”
Sheikh Gumi had taken a swipe at Wike for receiving the Israeli ambassador, who paid him a courtesy visit in his office, describing him as “Satanic.”
Gumi also accused President Tinubu of pursuing a Christian agenda against Muslims, adding that Christians cannot be trusted with power because according to Gumi, if you empower them, they would turn around and kill you.
He asked the president to sack the FCT minister, warning that Muslims would rise against President Tinubu and would not allow him to finish his tenure in office.
The cleric alleged that it was Christian soldiers who killed Northern political leaders in the past.
The Northern elders group consisting statesmen and women, disagreed with the cleric, saying, “We totally condemn such unprovoked divisive statement from a divisive element who is seeking to destabilize the peace and unity of our dear county, Nigeria, for selfish reason.
“The utterance is toxic and it should not be accepted by any decent and sound-minded person who loves peace and our Nigeria.”
The constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, according to Liman, “gives power and right to any Nigerian irrespective of tribes, religion and political affiliation to be appointed to any position of power as long as that person operates within the limit of our law.
“What Nigeria needs now is a consolidation of its peace, unity and progress.
“We caution profiteers of religious fundamentalism and ethnicity, as well as agents of destabilization and instability to desist henceforth.
“We therefore stand with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Chief (Barr) Nyesom Wike. We indeed stand with Nigeria and, of course, the Nigerian constitution for a better governance system for all Nigeria.”
